A decades-old tradition celebrating Questa’s patron saint once again brought together the northern New Mexico communities surrounding Questa on Saturday, June 21. This was the third consecutive fiesta celebration.The Fiestas de San Antonio de Rio Colorado, a celebration honoring Saint Anthony, the patron saint of Questa’s Catholic church, was revived in 2023 after a 15-year hiatus. Originally launched in the 1990s, the festival was held in the heart of the village before moving to Molycorp Fields, where it became a staple of summertime community life.
The annual event came to a halt in 2008 after the west wall of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church collapsed, prompting a community-wide effort to raise funds and rebuild the historic structure. With local focus shifted to reconstruction and preservation, the fiesta celebration were set aside.
That changed when Questa Village Councilwoman Katrina Gonzales and community leader Maria Gonzalez led the effort to bring the Fiestas back to life.
Although the St. Anthony’s Catholic Church has not yet rejoined the celebration, the festival continues to serve as a gathering place for family, neighbors, and visitors. The event features food, music, and connection—reminders of the spirit that originally gave rise to the fiesta celebration.
This year, Aliyah Santistevan was named Reina de las Fiestas de 2025. She followed in her mom’s footsteps, who was also Fiesta Reina in Taos in the 90’s. Alexis Brown and Esperanza Vallejos were named the 2025 princesas, Olivia Montoya, Lilah Montoya and Ari Duran were named the 2025 junior princesas.
Aliyah’s mother, Santana Santistivan, said she is proud of her daughter. “It’s part of our culture and our traditions and we’re keeping it alive,” Santana said. “When Aliyah came off the stage, she said ‘now I am going to have to have a daughter to follow in my footsteps,’ ” Santana said.
While the day was special for the Fiesta Court, many locals attended in hopes to recapture some of the essence that made the fiesta celebration so special.
“Katrina remembers how meaningful the fiestas were, and we’re proud to support her in bringing that feeling back,” said her mother, Reyna Gonzales. She and her husband Dan, lifelong Questeños, once served as mayordomos (caretakers of the church).
“Our kids remember the Fiestas and think back to those times in gratitude,” Reyna said.
Dan recalled the processions of the past: “We would go to the traditional Mass to kick off the fiestas, then the male mayordomos would carry the statue of San Antonio down the hill and walk to Molycorp Field.”
Katrina’s family rallied around her to bring the inaugural Fiestas back to life. Reyna says, “Her sister Erica and her family provided a kids booth, her other sister Danessa and her family provided furniture for the fiesta grounds and helped set up for the Reinas to participate in the annual 4th of July Parade, and Reyna provided a booth with the Catholic Daughters.”
Dan added, “I used to run the fire department burger stand and retired from my duties with the local fire department but when we knew the Fiestas were happening again, me and my former firefighters came out of retirement to cook for the fiestas celebration. Max Ortega, Mark Ortega, James Trujillo, Bennie Gallegos and Ben and Virgia Herrera all contributed– and Flavio Cisneros helped collecting money.”
The former celebration included music, carnival rides, and community meals, while mayordomos took turns keeping watch over the statue of San Antonio.
Though the present-day Fiestas no longer include the church’s participation, the Gonzales family remains hopeful that tradition and faith will one day reunite the sacred and the celebratory. In the meantime, Reyna continues to quietly honor the saint by leaving small tokens throughout the grounds.
“I like to leave cards with the St. Anthony medal around the fiestas, so it can be blessed with his presence as we celebrate this day,” she said.
Known as the patron saint of lost items, San Antonio remains a powerful symbol for Questa—guiding the community in its search for connection, faith, and shared joy and Reyna hopes it will one day lead the celebration back to incorporating the faith.
